Thinking of buying or adopting
a Tibetan Mastiff?

Tibetan Mastiff Overview

The Tibetan Mastiff is a rare and very large breed of dog that is powerfully built. It is slightly longer than it is tall with a well-boned and muscular profile. A massive head imparts a noble and dignified look which is augmented by a mane more pronounced in dogs. It has a broad, square muzzle, a black nose that has wide open nostrils with some wrinkling on the head that extends from the forehead to the corner of the mouth. It also features dark brown oval eyes, triangular pendant ears which are carried forward when the dog is excited and teeth that form a complete scissor bite. The neck is well-muscled which sufficiently carries the broad head. The front legs are muscular, straight and packed with strong bones while the back legs are equally muscular and powerful that carries the body with extreme efficiency. The limbs have fairly large and strong feet that are thickly padded for maximum cushion when the dog is on the move. A well laid-out and feathered tail that is usually carried curled over the back provides harmonious balance to the overall profile. The coat is dense, fairly long and thick with a soft, woolly undercoat during cold seasons which becomes a little sparse in warm weather.

Tibetan Mastiff Characteristics

Intelligence

Intelligence

All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.

Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.

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Exercise Needs

Exercise Needs

All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.

Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.

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Dogs Health

Dogs Health

There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.

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Child Friendly

Child Friendly

There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.

Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.

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Apartment

Apartment

There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.

Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.

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Shedding

Shedding

All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.

If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.

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Grooming Needs

Grooming Needs

All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.

Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.

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Barking

Barking

Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.

Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.

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Alone

Alone

Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.

Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.

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Trainability

Trainability

There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.

Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.

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Energy Levels

Energy Levels

All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.

High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.

Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.

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Dog friendly

Dog friendly

Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.

There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.

Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.

Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.

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History & Origin

The Tibetan Mastiff is truly an ancient breed which descended from ancient Tibetan dogs which are equally massive in size and has changed little until today. Evidence of a mastiff-like breed similar to the Tibetan mastiff appears in Stone Age cave drawings in the upper Himalayas which signifies that the breed is indeed ancient. It is believed that today’s modern Mastiff-type breeds and Molossus breeds are descendants of this huge dog. Known as “Do-Kyi” or “tied dog” or “gate dog” in its native origin, the Tibetan mastiff was often tied at the entrance of the house it was assigned to guard. Not only did it guard houses, it also acts as a protector of ancient monasteries and was even allowed then, to roam free in Tibetan villages to protect them from intruders. In the early 19th century, King George IV had two Tibetan mastiffs among the many that existed in England in 1906. Like almost all dog breeds, war efforts brought devastation to the breed’s population which nearly became extinct in 1959. Today, the Tibetan mastiff is steadily gaining popularity worldwide although it is still rather uncommon.

Tibetan Mastiff Temperament

The breed’s temperament may vary, depending on the location of the Tibetan mastiff. The native Tibetan mastiffs that still exist today are described as ferocious and aggressive with unpredictable behaviour and very hard to train. However, this may be due to the breeding purpose and training methods, where the native lines are more of guard dogs rather than companion dogs compared to the English lines. Conversely, English-bred Tibetan mastiffs are obedient and very loyal subjects. It has a large barking voice which could easily intimidate. It has a tendency to bark a lot especially during the night, but will usually stay quiet if kept indoors.

Training

Training and socialization are critical for this breed. Socialize the Tibetan mastiff early to prevent its somewhat reserved nature with strangers and very strong guarding instincts. It’s high intelligence yet stubborn streak requires attendance in obedience classes.

Grooming

The coat is quite easy to groom; it only requires weekly brushing to keep it in excellent form. However, daily brushing should be done when the dog is shedding, usually during the spring or summer.

Health

The Tibetan Mastiff is a fairly long-lived breed with an average lifespan of 10 to 14 years. Little human intervention has made a robust and healthy breed with relatively lower incidence of hereditary health problems. In some cases, hypothyroidism, entropion or ectropion, skin problems, and progressive retinal atrophy are found. Hip dysplasia, which is common in large breeds is also a minor issue.

This breed will do best in a base diet mixture that contains horse meat, barley, white rice and beet pulp. It must be supplied with foods high in animal fat and not vegetable fats.

Exercise

The Tibetan mastiff requires enough space to get plenty of exercise. A typical living environment is a house with at least a medium-sized, well fenced yard. However, care should be taken as this breed is an excellent digger and climber which may try to escape. Besides self-exercise, the breed will enjoy walks but will not be otherwise with jogging or ball-playing.

Children and other pets

In Tibet, the breed is known to defend women and children which makes it excellent with kids. It is an intelligent yet stubborn breed and will get along quite well with other dogs.